5 Things To See In Milan, Italy

Updated on October 19, 2009

Things To See In Milan

If you are spending the weekend in Milan there are a few things that you
definitely need to see. It will not take
you too long to see the most important sights of the city and it doesn’t have
to cost you the earth.

If you are doing a
tour of Europe, then you should make a short stop in Milan, which has some of the most stylishly
dressed people around. This is not
surprising since you will find all the big Italian fashion houses here such as
Gucci, Versace and Prada.

Whatever you do, don’t forget your dark sunglasses and
comfortable shoes. Here are the top five
things to see in Milan:

The Duomo

La Scala

Castello Sforzesco

Galleria Vittorio Emanule ll

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Painting of The Last Supper

The Duomo, Milan

The Duomo

The Duomo is the most famous landmark of the city.

This gothic cathedral took 5 centuries to
complete. There are steps up to the roof of the cathedral where you can get a
wonderful view of the piazza below.

For
those who can’t manage the stairs there is a lift that you can take however,
you really do feel a sense of achievement when you climb all 463 steps then you
can bask in the sun on the roof.

Don't forget your camera.

La Scala, Milan

La Scala

In Italian this is called the Teatro alla Scala, which is a
world famous opera house in Milan.
It was named after Regina della Scala who was the wife of a Duke of Milan.

It
was completed in 1778 when it was first known as the New Royal Theatre of La
Scala. During World War II there was
extensive bomb damage but the building was restored to its former glory.

If you can you should try and see an opera or
a ballet here so that you can enjoy the interior of the building.

There is now a school associated with the theatre which
teaches music, dance and stage management.

Castello Sforzesco

This is one of the oldest castles in Italy. It was originally built by the Viscontis and
Sforzas and has been rebuilt and added to many times during the course of
time. There are lots of different areas
to visit with different exhibitions on offer.

One of the most outstanding things that everyone who visits
should see is the works of art that was created by Michaelangelo as well as the
painted ceiling that was done by Leonardo da Vinci. This depicts a forest scene
with intertwining vines and a plethora of green leaves of differing shades.

Galleria Vittoria Emanuele ll, Milan

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

This is the main shopping centre in Milan where you will find all the big famous
designer stores and you can shop to your hearts content. The galleria was named after the first King
of the united Italy Vittorio Emauele and was built between 1865 and 1877.

The arcaded is covered with a glass dome in the shape of an
octagon. If you can not afford to shop,
you should still visit the arcade in order to take part in one of the
traditions that involves placing your heel onto the testicles of a bull that is
on the tiled floor and spinning around. This is done in order to ensure good
luck.

Guiseppe Mengoni, the architect of
the centre fell to his death from the building in 1877 shortly after
completion. Legend states that if you do not want the bad luck that he had,
step on the balls of the bull and you will be protected.

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Painting of The Last Supper

If you want to see one of Italy’s
most famous paintings, The Last Supper, you will need to book your tickets at
least 2 months in advance of your visit to Milan.

The painting is in the Santa
Mariadella Grazie Church
and your visit is set to a maximum of 20 minutes.

There is a convey belt like system in order
to view the portrait and if you miss your allotted slot, your ticket will be
resold and you will not be able to gain admission at a later time.

Visit Navigli, Milan

These are the main things to see if you are on a short stay
in Milan. If you have a chance, go to Navigli, which is
the alternative area of Milan.

This is similar to Camden where there are lots of shops,
restaurants and bars that are lined up along the banks of the canal. This is a really nice place to hang out in
the evening and a great way to mix with the locals.

Others Places To Visit

1 comment

myi4u 5 years ago from United Kingdom

Very useful hub! I am going to Milan soon, well, still in planning though. It's nice to see this kind of hub rather than going through a huge list of places to visit and thinking which ones are worth seeing. However, it won't be a short trip but these 5 places are now definitely on my list.